ON THE PATH TO H.C. ANDERSEN Contemporary Danish Works for Accordion Martin Lohse • Jesper Koch • Bent Lorentzen • Svend Aaquist Hanzhi Wang, Accordion On the Path to H.C. Andersen Contemporary Danish Works for Accordion Although it might still occupy a niche position within the simple pattern of chords, which slowly modulate through short-lived when the music returns to its earlier swell then fade in an evocative manner. At length, the context of contemporary music, the accordion has gained all the keys in a never-ending sequence and creating a sombreness on route to the questioning close. Lohse music suddenly erupts into darting gestures and deft a sizeable repertoire particularly in the Nordic countries music with no or very few dissonances.’ Each makes conveys in five minutes what other composers have passagework which open out its expressive range and not least in Denmark, where numerous composers recourse to post-minimalist elements along with those of sought to do in full-length operas. accordingly, as it moves towards a glowering culmination have followed the example of Per Nørgård in creating the new simplicity crucial to an earlier generation of Born on 5 September 1967 and another graduate from which any hint of sentimentality, as might be evoked some of their most personal expression for this Danish composers. from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Jesper Koch by the title, has been completely banished. The final bars instrument. The sound of the accordion suggests music of Although composed and premiered separately, these has himself written extensively for the accordion. His best- then provide for an ending as speculative as it is poetic, a fanciful nature, which makes it the natural conduit for three pieces can equally well be played as a sonata-like known piece for this instrument, Jabberwocky was written evoking the aura of bittersweet inevitably that pieces which have been inspired by the fairy tales of Hans composite, when their similarities and contrasts are for the Norwegian accordionist Geir Draugsvoll in 1995, characterises the end of Andersen’s tale. Christian Andersen (1805–1875), whose writings have thrown into greater relief. Marked as Allegro con passione and demonstrates the concern for sonority as a means of Born on 7 December 1948 and educated in long become a Danish national institution – even while sostenuto , Passing I commences with deft passagework structuring the musical argument typical of this composer. Copenhagen, Svend Aaquist has long been active as a most of the pieces here evoke his writing in overtly in the instrument’s highest register, gradually descending As befits the nature of its inspiration – albeit in Lewis conductor (primarily with the Frankfurt-based Ensemble abstract terms rather than depicting any more specific through the compass from where a lively counter-melody Carroll – this piece abounds in expressive contrasts that Modern) as well as a composer – in which latter capacity narrative. makes a first appearance. These interrelated ideas are often quixotic, allied to writing in a way that utilises the he has contributed to all the major genres. He was also Born in Copenhagen on 29 May 1971, Martin Lohse continue, prior to returning to the initial music and register. instrument’s full technical armoury. What might easily have among the first of his generation to embrace computer studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Hans Passing II , marked as Andante con dolore sostenuto , been a purely gestural study is given focus by technology as a means of composition. Written in 1992, Abrahamsen and Niels-Rosing Schow, and is active both functions as the ‘slow movement’ of this sequence – not accumulation of detail and incident towards a scintillating again for Geir Draugsvoll, Saga Night is the longest of as a composer and visual artist. The accordion features least in the way that its main theme proceeds close where the musical ‘action’ seems to be taking place these pieces and seems intent on evoking that mood prominently in his output as a solo instrument, also in contemplatively and with a fatalistic undertow; there being over several layers. After this, a lengthy and conclusive which is found in numerous Andersen tales rather than chamber and orchestral contexts. Composed in 2014 little in its various turns of phrase to indicate any exhalation seems to be the only natural response. any specific story. (though arranged for two guitars the next year), Menuetto lightening of mood. Passing III , Moderato maestoso , duly Bent Lorentzen, born on 11 February 1935 at Although it unfolds continuously, the piece falls into was written for and premiered by Bjarke Mogensen in unfolds as a lively finale whose vamping main theme Stenvad in eastern Jutland, and educated at the several interrelated sections – opening with an undulating Copenhagen on 11 August 2015. The piece opens in a drives the music onwards; its unceasing vigour evident in universities of Aarhus and Copenhagen, ranks among the rhythm over which various gestures gradually emerge into wistful manner, though its underlying rhythmic lilt propels the way that its rhythmic outline remains constant despite most significant Danish composers of the older prominence. While not evocative in any scenic sense, the music through several varied episodes, to which the several appearances of a more reflective theme, until the generation – not least for his extensive contributions to these ideas are characterful in themselves as they enable opening theme re-emerges as refrain. The mood remains music at length heads towards its decisive closing the genres of music-theatre and electroacoustic music. the music to gain expressive tension as it builds to a brief relatively subdued throughout, with the main theme gesture. Although he quickly confronted the challenges of the post- climax (a third of the way in), before heading into a returning after a suddenly more pensive episode to guide Among Lohse’s most recent pieces for accordion, war avant-garde head on, his mature output is passage of questioning calm. From here it bounds this piece towards its poignant conclusion. The Little Match Girl (2015) is based on the short story characterised by a refusal to be bound by considerations forward into an energetic dialogue between the higher If Menuetto seems restrained in its approach to that is also one of Andersen’s most enduring creations (its of stylistic uniformity, while informed by his belief in and lower registers, and given clarity by the bass line accordion technique, the three pieces which comprise setting at New Year perhaps intended to complement that communication as a guiding aesthetic. which grounds the discourse. This culminates in Passing are demonstrably more adventurous. The of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol ). Instead of Composed in 1992 and dedicated to Geir Draugsvoll, shimmering trills that move up the compass, ushering in a sequence emerged during 2011–12, once again for attempting to summarise this story, let alone evoke its Tears fully typifies this approach. Although its title might final phase which brings ideas from across the piece into Mogensen – who gave their respective premieres in alternately ironic and moralising tone, the piece seeks sound generalised enough, this likely refers to lines from uneasy accord and so makes possible the fatalistic close. Humlebaek on 27 September 2011, Copenhagen on 7 rather to encapsulate a mood of sadness through Andersen’s The Little Mermaid – ‘But a mermaid has no The scenario being evoked has evidently come full circle. March 2012 then Birkerød on 28 September 2014. These depicting the tragic protagonist when she encounters tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.’ It pieces are ‘mobiles’ which, for Lohse, entails ‘a … neglect and indifference to her fate. There is also a feeling commences with sustained gestures which successively Richard Whitehouse technique where different layers of music in individual of reaching towards a sense of fulfilment as is suggested tempos, metric and musical style are combined in a by the animated central section, though this proves to be Hanzhi Wang The classical accordion is rapidly growing as a concert instrument, thrilling audiences in new ways. Up and coming artist, Hanzhi Wang, is the accordion’s perfect ambassador. Praised for her engaging stage presence and performances that are technically and musically brilliant, her career has already taken her around the globe with performances in Europe and Asia. As First Prize winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York, she is now introducing US audiences to the accordion with recitals throughout the country, including debuts in New York at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall and in Washington, DC at the Kennedy Center. Other distinctions include first prizes in several music competitions around the world. www.hanzhiwang.org Photo: Matt Dine With this unique programme Hanzhi Wang takes us into the ‘fairy-tale world of the accordion’ in works by Danish composers that explore both the darkness and luminosity of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous stories. Poignant reflection and tragic depiction infuse Martin Lohse’s Menuetto and The Little Match Girl (dedicated to Hanzhi Wang), while his post-minimalist Passing series forms adventurous ‘mobiles’ of dancing light. From Jesper Koch’s quixotic Jabberwocky to Svend Aaquist’s evocative Saga Night , this new repertoire for a relatively recent concert instrument is both dramatic and uplifting. ON THE PATH TO H.C. ANDERSEN Contemporary Danish Works for Accordion 1 Martin Lohse (b. 1971): Menuetto (2014) 7:31 2 Martin Lohse: Passing (2011 –12) 13:14 3 Passing I: Allegro con passione sostenuto 4:05 4 Passing II: Andante con dolore sostenuto 4:56 Passing III: Moderato maestoso 4:06 5 Martin Lohse: The Little Match Girl (2015)* 4:41 6 Jesper Koch (b. 1967): Jabberwocky (1995) 5:52 7 Bent Lorentzen (b.